Flynn's Mom, what do you think about walkers and jumper seats?

Just wanted your opinion on walkers and the jumperoo and johnny jump up kind of seats. I know you have done a lot of research on "crotch danglers" when it comes to baby carriers. Seems like walkers and similar items have the same crotch dangler seat. So even if their feet can touch the ground, are their little legs at this age strong enough to hold themselves up for long? And is it safe for their legs and hips?

Comments (16)

ODD's physical therapist told me when she was 8 months old to rarely use my stationary walker (I don't know what to call it! It has toys and the seat spins and it has elastic ties to hold the floating bottom so Baby can bounce) because the legs become accustomed to the bouncing motion and then they want to bounce when they walk, so they take longer to learn how to walk properly. Once they're walking, she said that it was okay to use more often because the body will have the proper walking muscle memory.

Of course, this could just be because ODD has low muscle tone and hyper flexibility so we had to teach her muscles the right way to form and go?...

But I'm going to wait until YDD can bear weight on her legs before using my stationary walker, jumparoo or anything else like that. Just to be safe.

I was put in "bouncy" seats like that and johnny jump up type things when I was a baby. I ended up needing a physical therapist because I was a toe walker and bounced when I walked. There's no way to know if that's what caused it or made a natural tendency worse. But my mom still feels badly to this day about it.

Totally anecdotal but I won't be using them for my lo. I have a super seat that is great and pedi approved

All of mine used them and all but one and of course the new one walked unassisted by 9 months. They didn't spend longer than about 15-20 mins in them. My 4 month old loves to bounce and spin in his jumper roo.

Jumperoos are fine starting at 4 months, walkers starting at 6 months. Once they are around those ages, their hips and joints are better developed and can withstand periodic "sessions" in both. And yes, the seats in both are crotch-dangly.

Our eldest used the Jumperoo from 4/5 months to 8/9 months and started the walker around 6/7 months. Our daughter never liked the Jumperoo but started in the walker around 6/7 months as well.

I like the Baby Trend teddy bear walker for multiple reasons- it's the least expense and its not big and bulky, so it's not cumbersome for them to tool around in.

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